It is exactly two months since the end of a record-breaking transfer window.
During the summer, across the 20 top-flight clubs there was a total spend of £1.9billion - the highest ever recorded in the Premier League.
After the market slowed during the coronavirus pandemic, the usual suspects - and some new ones were back doing what they do best…spending money, and lots of it.
With the calendar flipping to November, it’s still too early to have any long-term conclusions, but in the short-term, some will be significantly happier with their immediate return on investment.
Chelsea are likely to be at the other end of the spectrum with their massive expenditure failing to reap awards in the early months of the new season. Mirror Football takes a look at the 10 biggest deals of the most recent window and how they’ve fared since.
Antony
Ajax to Man Utd - (£85m)
Such was the fee the Red Devils shelled out for Antony, it will be extremely difficult to truly rate it in terms of value for money. Three goals in his first six Premier League matches is an extremely positive return for a young player finding his feet in a new league.
But at this kind of cost, Antony will need to become one of the league’s best players to ensure it was the right move. The 22-year-old has certainly started in the right fashion however, even if he raised the collective blood pressure with his showboating.
Early rating - 6.5/10
Wesley Fofana
Leicester City to Chelsea (£70m)
The Frenchman did all he could to force a move from the East Midlands to west London during the summer. He got his wish in a deal which many predicted couldn’t really go wrong.
But Fofana has endured a difficult start to life with Chelsea, making an error on his Champions League debut before picking up a knee injury. That is likely to keep him sidelined until after the World Cup - where he will hope to get his Stamford Bridge career truly kick-started.
Early rating - 4/10
Darwin Nunez
Benfica to Liverpool (£64m)
Attempting to replace the talismanic Sadio Mane was always going to be a tall task - as was being the figurehead of an entirely new era under Jurgen Klopp. The raw statistics aren’t bad, with Nunez scoring on an average of every 121 minutes.
It’s unfortunate that his arrival has coincided with a massive drop-off for Liverpool, who are still finding their way this season. His red card against Crystal Palace was a sign of real naivety and he has been guilty of missing some notable sitters already - still plenty of time to be a Kop hero though.
Early rating - 5/10
Casemiro
Real Madrid to Man Utd (£60m)
Erik ten Hag spent the entire summer chasing a midfielder from one of Spain’s ‘big two’ only to land Real Madrid ’s Casemiro in the final weeks. And although Frenkie de Jong would have been a brilliant addition, the veteran Brazilian’s impact has perhaps been even more profound.
Ten Hag gave Casemiro some time to adapt before placing the responsibility of anchoring their entire midfield on his shoulder. And that looks to have worked to perfection, quickly showing why he became one of Real’s most reliable performers of the modern era.
“You can see why he wins five Champions League trophies. He will only get better and better,” Ten Hag said, an exciting prospect for United fans.
Early rating - 8.5/10
Alexander Isak
Real Sociedad to Newcastle United (£59m)
Their almost unrivalled riches meant some of the biggest names in world football were linked with a move to St James’ Park. But while Kylian Mbappe and Neymar remained in Paris, the Magpies still did some very shrewd summer business.
Sven Botman at £35m has slotted in seamlessly, while Nick Pope has delivered exactly what was expected. Isak was the big splash and had fans purring after scoring two in his first three games for the club.
A hamstring injury, which will keep him sidelined until after the World Cup has halted his promising early season form and made this a difficult one to judge.
Early rating - 6/10
Marc Cucurella
Brighton to Chelsea (£56m)
In a time before Graham Potter was in the Chelsea dugout, the Blues raided his Brighton team for Cucurella. A controversial transfer was completed after much hearsay from both sides, but the huge fee continues to look puzzling.
It’s not that the Spaniard is a bad player - quite the opposite - but the fact that his price increased by around £40m in 12 months meant it would always be difficult for him to live up to the price tag.
Cucurella has been hooked off by Potter on two occasions as well and the idea of spending so much on an area which already has Ben Chilwell continues to perplex.
Early rating - 3/10
Lisandro Martinez
Ajax to Man Utd - (£55m)
Had this list been done at the end of August it would have read very differently. The Argentine was given no time to adjust and was quickly panned as a waste of money, unable to play as a Premier League centre back.
Eight weeks on and Martinez has emerged as one of the leaders of a resurgent Man United side. After looking out of his depth in his early starts Martinez now looks one of the best defenders in the entire top flight. Instead of talking about what he does lack, observers are now focusing on what he has in abundance.
Early rating - 8.5/10
Erling Haaland
Borussia Dortmund to Man City (£51m)
In normal circumstances a signing shouldn’t be rated as a 10 out of 10 this early into their tenure. But there is nothing normal about Erling Haaland.
His record is genuinely astonishing, already finding the net 17 times in 11 Premier League matches - so much for taking some time to adapt! If he can stay fit, it’s likely every conceivable goal record will be smashed in his first season at The Etihad.
At times it has been thoroughly unfair for the rest of the country.
Early rating - 9.5/10
Richarlison
Everton to Tottenham (£50m)
Richarlison was bought in to help ease the pressure on the everpresent Harry Kane. However, bar a couple of cameos from the bench, he has mainly been utilised on the right of a front three.
And while he’s yet to score in the Premier League, his double in the Champions League offered a glimpse of his talents in front of goal. His true value will come once Antonio Conte gives Kane some time out of the starting XI and he gets a run in his favoured position.
Nevertheless, he has quickly become a fan favourite with the Spurs faithful and will show his worth as time goes on.
Early rating - 6/10
Raheem Sterling
Man City to Chelsea (£50m)
"If he keeps playing the way he is right now, he's not even a consideration for the World Cup,” BBC pundit Pat Nevin claimed this weekend.
It’s hardly been a glowing start for a player earmarked as the centre-piece of Todd Boehly’s new era at Stamford Bridge. Sterling has now not scored since August and has put in a string of ineffective performances.
Not only will his form be a major concern to Graham Potter but also to England boss Gareth Southgate. Sterling left City to become the main man at Chelsea, so far he’s failed to live up to the billing.
Early rating - 3/10
